ZION B-BC NEWSLETTER. [ A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja Nigeria. ] { VOL. 3. NO 88. 19-04-15.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You Free! (John.8:32). “I WILL NOT SIGN THESE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS!” Long before the Nigerian nation became a geographical entity in 1914, developed democratic institutions, guided by Constitutions, have existed and have perfected political, social and economic contracts with their citizens by regularly overhauling those documents through a process of review and amendments! *Statutory Constitutions all over the world should be acknowledged as imperfect and fallible written law documents which form the set of political principles by which states or organizations are governed - especially in relation to the rights and privileges of the people they govern! *Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution consists of a body of basic laws, principles, conventions, rules and regulations which specify the limits of, as well as relationships between various organs and agencies of government and also stipulates the basic duties and rights of the country’s leaders and citizens. *Recently, the 7th National Assembly which is about to wind up, embarked on the amendment of the said 1999 Constitution with a working capital of over ONE BILLION NAIRA to enable the joint committee saddled with the onerous and very delicate responsibility function without any form of financial hitch but was sabotaged because the out-going Mr. President’s golden signature was denied on submission for assent! *Amendments to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Act 2015, according to feelers from the National Assembly, met all statutory provisions as set forth in the 1999 Constitution. For instance, the two thirds majority resolution of States Houses of Assemblies were obtained according to Section 9(3) and not less than four fifths majority of all members of each House of the National Assembly, were also secured! *Being a human oriented document, a nation’s constitution is prone to constant amendments which are official modifications made to all laws and contracts contained in it from one administration to another. *The United States of America’s [USA] Constitution to which Nigeria’s Constitution is modelled has a list of 33 Amendments since the constitution was put into operation in March 1789. Twenty-seven of these, having been ratified by the requisite number of states, are already part of the Constitution and the first ten amendments which were adopted and ratified simultaneously and are known collectively as the “Bill of Rights.” THEY DID NOT REQUIRE THEIR PRESIDENTS ASSENTS! *Although, the Nigerian Constitution is silent on presidential assent for Constitutional amendments, the legislators decided in the spirit of mutual co-operation of checks and balances, to send them like any other Bill of the National Assembly[NASS] that required such assent to become an Act, it was therefore a surprise that the outgoing President could VETO the document! *In a letter dated13th April, 2015, to NASS, the President rejected the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution (Alteration) Bill 2015 because he perceived deliberate attempts by federal lawmakers to whittle down presidential powers! *He complained also of: (1) Non-compliance with Section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution on amendments; (2) Mere use of voice votes to alter the constitution without being supported by the votes of not less than four fifths majority members of the National Assembly as well as two thirds of all the 36 States Houses of Assembly; (3).Imposition of the right to free basic education and primary and maternal care services on private institutions; (4) As well as perceived violation of the doctrine of separation of powers! (5) Other flaws, according to the outgoing President, included decision to whittle down executive powers as contained in Section 5(1) (a) (b) of the 1999 Constitution; (6) 30 days limitation provided for president’s assent; (7) Reduction of the time frame of expenditure in default of appropriation from six months to three months; (8) And the creation of the office of the Accountant -General of the Federal Government with different functions from those of the Accountant General of the Federation. (9) Other complaints of the President include, the decision to transfer the president’s powers to appoint the Accountant-General of the Federation as well as the Attorney General of the Federation, to the National Economic Council and National Judicial Council, respectively; (10) And the decision to whittle down the discretionary powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation as its separation from the Ministry of Justice and described it as ambiguous. **If constitutional amendments are truly continuous administrative process, what does an outgoing president stand to gain or lose by assenting or dissenting to append his signature to such documents? *We suggest that neither an outgoing or incoming president should lose sleep over constitution amendments because they will always remain the collective wishes of the citizens through their elected representatives and for their mutual benefits! *Would you regard the veto of any president over your fundamental rights as constitutionally democratic? *Please find below another list of issues which the outgoing President Ebele Jonathan, is quarrelling with and why he has “thrown away the baby with the bath water!” (1) The outgoing president says that it was wrong for federal lawmakers to impose the right to free basic education, primary and maternal care services on private institutions! *Our Comments: (a) Under Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution, (Educational Objectives), government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels; (b) Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end Government shall as when as practicable provide: (i) Free, compulsory and universal primary education; (ii) Free secondary education; (iii) Free university education; and (iv) Free adult literacy programme. *The Peoples’ Democratic Party [PDP] had dominated and monopolized government at federal and states levels for upwards of SIXTEEN YEARS, without implementing any of the above! *Nigeria’s educational system had remained on the brink of collapse while those saddled with that ministry cared less whether schools were opened or shut! *Though education remains the bedrock of development for every nation, universities and polytechnics in Nigeria lost several academic sessions while exorbitant fees are being paid in governments’ primary and secondary institutions to acquire education which should be free according to PDP Manifesto! This insensitivity by the outgoing administration has cost up to a million loss of lives through the insurgency of Boko Haram who were neither given education nor any form of vocation! * Why would and outgoing president then refuse to correct the systemic errors of the past? Could it be that now that he was moving into the PRIVATE SECTOR, he has to protect his own interest in advance because he is against private sector investment in free education for their workers children! *The outgoing president does not believe that the burden of free maternal care of private workers spouses should be passed over to their employers, but that workers should bear such burden personally! *Nigeria, as at the time of this publication has no operating Budget for 2015 but the outgoing president is empowered to continue to appropriate and spend money for SIX MONTHS into a new year in default of Budget Approval! Is it not therefore fit and convenient for the outgoing president to refuse to assent the recommendation that reduces the time frame of unbridled spending from six months to THREE MONTHS? *We will not be surprised if the outgoing president hands over on 28th May, 2015, to the incoming administration without proper accountability in the area of financial stewardship! *President Jonathan is also not comfortable with the constitutional recommendation that the office of the Attorney General[AGF], should be separated from the Federal Ministry of Justice with a view to insulating the Chief law officer from partisan politics; including the suggestion that both the AGF and the Accountant General of the Federation be appointed by the National Judicial and National Economic Councils, respectively, though their mode of appointments by Mr President are spelt out under Sections 150 and 195 of the 1999 Constitution! *The Fourth Alteration Act 2015 also dealt with the issues of Independent Candidacy, Removal of the Immunity Clause which protects the President and his vice; Governor and his deputy from CRIMINAL prosecutions while in office; and Local Government Autonomy, which the outgoing president did not bother to highlight in his disagreements! *But suffice it to state that, “he was caged” by his Attorney General and Minister of Justice, to reverse assent after appending his signatures on the ORIGINAL copy of the document which the Senate is now demanding its return according to inside sources! *To all Nigerians who have been down-trodden by their fellow citizens in the last 16 years, we of this Editorial Board wish to intimate you with the encouraging and sacrosanct Word of the Living God which states as follows: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”[Romans. 8:28]. *In Genesis .50:20-21; Joseph spoke the following soothing words to his brethren: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. “Now therefore fear ye not; I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly to them.” *In the Book of Proverbs.12:21; “There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief;” and in 2Corinthians.4:17-18; “For our light affliction, which but for a moment, worketh for a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. “While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” *The victory over the PDP government of 16 consecutive agonizing and multi-tasking evil years is God’s answer to every Nigerian who has suffered untold hardships and enslavement in his/her own country! But listen to our Father who says, “VENGEANCE IS MINE AND, I WILL REVENGE! You should be like Joseph who left his brethren in the hands of GOD for necessary justice, because no sinner can go unpunished! *Though they may remain incorrigible, play your own part according to God’s Word and watch the unfolding scenario from now on to see if “GOD BE TRUE OR NOT!” If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations. Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access,to this newsletter, log on to: facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com, https://www.google.com/ +zionfaithbiblebelievingchurch . I am, Yours sincerely,Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor.08130669886, 08098194390.g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com .]